Dear Families,
We are thrilled to announce the completion and opening of our new classrooms! Mr. VanDerKern and Mr. Anderson have seamlessly transitioned into their new spaces and are actively introducing the routines and expectations for Design and Health classes. Additionally, we're delighted to unveil an extra conference room, providing a valuable space for meetings. (See photos below for a glimpse!)
The journey to becoming a district middle school will be a multi-year endeavor. The 2022-2023 academic year marked a significant milestone as we physically moved into a shared space—a pivotal step forward. Prior to this, our middle school students were spread across various sending schools, often adapting to systems similar to those of grades K-6 within shared buildings, each with its unique layout and configuration. Sharing a campus with the high school for the first time in 2022-2023 presented its own set of challenges, as we navigated which systems from grades 9-12 were applicable to grades 7/8 and which needed adaptation. It was a period of intense collaboration to define and clarify roles and responsibilities, a year of discovery and growth as we uncovered the unknowns.
Following our inaugural year in shared space and with the guidance of new leadership, we dedicated the summer of 2023 to reflecting on our experiences and setting priorities for the upcoming 23-24 school year. This work led to significant initiatives aimed at addressing our evolving needs. We transitioned to a co-principal leadership model, with myself overseeing the middle school, Mr. Worthing leading the high school, and Mrs. Hagenbarth and Mrs. Hayward focusing on behavior/SEL and special education across grades 7-12. This model has proven to be more effective in fostering collaboration. We experimented with organizing two middle school teams, each responsible for teaching both grade 7 and grade 8, while also enhancing our advisory program through the implementation of Wayfinder. Additionally, concerted efforts were made to establish clear and consistent expectations regarding safe, responsible, and respectful behavior, including enforcing a cell phone policy of ‘off and away’ in the middle school, the "10 & 2" rule, and guidelines for navigating and respecting our middle school space.
As we approach spring, we are preparing to reflect on our second year together. Seeking feedback from various stakeholders will be important as we chart our course forward and identify areas for further improvement. We value honest and diverse perspectives on our progress and areas where we can continue to grow. I encourage you to engage in conversations with your child about their experiences as we celebrate our successes and thoughtfully plan for the future.
One decision we've made is to return to a Grade 7 team and a Grade 8 team for the upcoming year, driven by a variety of factors. We remain committed to evaluating roles, responsibilities, and systems to ensure they best serve the needs of our students across all grade levels. Your ongoing support and participation are invaluable. In the coming months, there will be surveys provided to families to collect your feedback. I thank you, in advance, for making the time to complete these surveys, which will help provide direction for our continued improvement efforts.
Please remember that Tuesday, March 5th is voting day. Below are the polling places and hours for each district town:
Town of Benson: 10 am - 7 pm, Benson Community Hall
Town of Castleton: 8 am - 7 pm, Castleton Fire Station
Town of Fair Haven: 10 am - 7 pm, American Legion Post 49
Town of Hubbardton: 10 am - 7 pm, Hubbardton Town Hall
Town of Orwell: 10 am - 7 pm, Orwell Town Hall
Town of West Haven: 10 am - 7 pm, West Haven Town Hall
Your voice matters, both in our school community and in the broader community. Thank you for your continued support and participation.
Thank you,
Jennefer Paquette
FHUMHS Middle School Principal
